Jellyfish

This post is about the science behind jellyfish stings and how it works. First off, jellyfish are not really fish, they are actually plankton. Jellyfish do not plan attacks on humans because their nervous system isn't advanced enough to do so. Their tentacles are for defense and a way to capture their prey. Jellyfish are carnivores and what they eat depends on their size. Smaller ones eat algae and zooplankton while larger ones eat crustaceans and other sea creatures. Every one of their tentacles are covered in cnidoblast cells that contain nematocysts. When a tentacle comes in contact with another object, threads inside the nematocysts uncoil, shooting out venom like darts. The venom is a neurotoxin, which paralyzes the prey. The strength of the venom depends on the species. Larger ones tend to have larger cnidoblasts that go deeper into the skin and some have more toxic venom. Be careful walking on the beach because dead jellyfish, and even the tentacles separated from the actual jellyfish can still sting.

Jellyfish Article

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